Sheet metal forming machine

ABSTRACT

A machine with a motor-driven rotary table carrying a forming toolholder movable radially of the axis of rotation of the table by a fluid ram, together with a work support adjacent the table and means for holding an apertured worksheet in place on the support to receive a tool mounted in the toolholder.

111 3,709,016 1451 Jan. 9, 1973 United States Patent 1 Breidert et al.

9/1884 Shepard FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 541 SHEET METAL FORMING MACHINE 2,545,976 3/1951 [75] Inventors: George M. Breidert, Granada Hills, 2/1876 Calif.; Albert W. MacCorkell, Sun

City, Ariz.

11/1881 GreatBritain...........1..............

4,931 72/124 400,067 10/1933 GreatBritain..........................72/126 [73] Assignee: said Breidert by said MacCorlrell [22] Filed: Nov. 4, 1970 Primary Examiner-Richard J. Herbst Attorney-Whann & McManigal 211 Appl. No.: 86,677

ABSTRACT A machine with a motor-driven rotary table carrying a forming toolholder movable radially of the axis of rotation of the table by a fluid ram, together with a 34 6 Z NZ H9 21 1 .d. H. "1 m2 3 m MZ mul 2 5 "1 m 2 27 "I 2 m mh 6 "r. "8 s L C 0 d SLd n O. UhF II] 7.18 555 [II work support adjacent the table and means for holding [56] References cued an apertured worksheet in place on the support to UNITED STATES PATENTS receive a tool mounted in the toolholder.

2,933,124 4/1960 Benson et al...........................72/l25 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 63 6602655 M BEE/0527' A B- 2 'r W. Mac 602K ELL 1 N VENTORS WW? "N 2 Am: MIN/6A SHEET METAL FORMING MACHINE This invention has to do generally with machines for forming flat metal sheets into other shapes and more particularly with machines that form or deflect the metal around an opening in a sheet of metal and form an annular wall extending laterally of the general plane of the sheet.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved machine designed to readily and quickly shape or form a metal sheet by deflecting the metal of the sheet marginal to a hole therethrough laterally of the sheet into an annular wall defining a passage of varying cross-sectional area.

Another object is to provide a simple, rugged semiautomatic machine for rapidly specially forming an apertured metal sheet.

More particularly it is an object to provide a machine having novel means for supporting a sheet in position to be formed and a novel forming mechanism embodying a rotary table with a toolholder and means for advancing the toolholder against the work radially of the axis of rotation of the table together with means for rotating the table.

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawings and the following description. Referring to the drawings: I

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevational view through a machine embodying the invention substantially on line I l of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view on line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional plan view on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 55 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view ofa tool and a portion of the worksheet.

More particularly describing the invention, in general the machine comprises a frame designated 11 including a rack 12 on which to support the work which is usually a flat metal sheet 13 having a hole 14 therethrough. A work holddown means, designated generally by 15, is provided above the rack for the purpose of clamping the worksheet in place. Beneath the rack is a rotary table 16 which includes a vertical shaft 17 and this is driven by a motor 18. A toolholder 20 is mounted on the table for movement radially of the axis of rotation and this is moved by means of a fluid ram 21. The toolholder carries a worksheet-engaging tool such as that indicated at 22.

In the operation of the machine the table 16 is rotated at a suitable speed and the toolholder, with the tool 22 mounted therein engaging the edge of the worksheet around the opening, is moved outwardly forcing the tool against the work as from the broken line position of FIG. 6 to the full line position thereof to form, shape or deflect the portion of the worksheet which is marginal to the hole therethrough thereby forming an axially extending wall section 13.

Referring now in more detail to the machine, the work holddown means 15 includes a fluid ram 24 which is mounted vertically and depends from a crossbeam structure 25 that extends between two vertical posts or columns 26 of the frame. The ram has a projecting piston rod 27 which carries a crosshead 28 having a pair of rollers 29 at each end that operate on guide rails 30 mounted on the posts 26. Dependently mounted on the crosshead is a work-engaging member 32 which in this particular case is shown as generally cylindrical, but preferably this member is detachably mounted on the crosshead. Thus any suitably-shaped work-engaging members may be used depending upon the workpiece to be held.

The rack 12 comprises a rectangular frame 34 including crossmembers 35, the rack being supported on the walls 36 that enclose the lower part of the machine. A lateral extension 37 is provided at each side. A work support ring 38 is detachably secured to the rack and the dimensions of this are determined by the work to be performed. Removable stops 39 can be provided on the elements of the rack for the purpose of locating the work.

The rotary table 16 is shown as comprising an elongated rectangular plate 40 having rollers 41 on its undersurface which run on an annular supporting plate 42 which is mounted on the frame. In this connection the portion of the frame which supports the motor and the rotary table comprises two vertically spaced crossbeams 43, 44, two vertically spaced beams between the crossbeams and the nearest post 26, designated 45 and 46, respectively, together with two pairs of vertically spaced beams extending from the other post to the crossbeams with the beams of one pair diverging relatively to those of the other, the beams of one pair being designated 47 and 47' and those of the other 48 and 48.

The rotary table shaft 17 is journaled in bearings 50 and 51 which are mounted upon the crossbeams 43 and 44. The motor 18 is mounted on the beam 46 and is connected by a sheave or pulley and belt drive means 54 to drive and rotate the table.

On the upper side of the rotary table the tool-holder 20 is mounted in a slide or guideway 56 so that it can be moved radially of the axis of rotation of the table. The fluid ram 21 includes the work cylinder 58 whichis mounted on one end of the rotary table and the piston rod 59 which is connected to the toolholder 20 so, that the holder can be moved by the'ram. For the purpose of supplying fluid under pressure to and exhausting it from the cylinder of the ram, the shaft 17 of the table is provided with suitable passages 61 therethrough and with a rotary fitting 62 at its lower end to which conduits 63 connected in a suitable pressure fluid system are connected.

The shaft is also provided with one or more internal electrical conductors (not shown) which terminate in an equal number of commutator rings 65 on the surface thereof so that suitable electrical controls can be provided on the rotary table.

The toolholder 20 is adapted to accommodate any of several forming tools preferably of a freely rotatable type such as the one shown in FIG. 6, designated 22.

Any suitable means may be used for controlling the machine and it is contemplated that a combination electrical-hydraulic means may be used employing limit switches operated in response to inward and outward movement of the toolholder or fluid ram and of the work holddown means as part of a system for enabling automatic cycling.

In the normal cycle of operation, with the work hold down means in the up position and the ram 21 retracted, a worksheet 13 is placed on the ring 38 of the rack and properly positioned thereon. The holddown means is then actuated to firmly clamp the work in position. It is assumed that a tool which will produce the desired configuration in the finished worksheet has been chosen and mounted in the tool support, and such too] would normally project through the opening in the sheet. The table is then rotated by the motor, the speed.

depending upon the material being worked, the thickness thereof and, the diameter of the area of the portion of the sheet to be worked. As the table rotates, fluid under pressure is supplied to the ram 21 thereby moving the tool support tadially outward of the axis of rotation of the table and forcing the tool against the metal of the worksheet marginal to the opening therethrough with the result that the metal is deflected upwardly and formed into a shape which will depend upon the tool used and the length of the stroke of the ram. By way of example, in FIG.:6 the result obtained with one such tool is shown, assuming the stroke of the ram is stopped at the point where the tool is shown in full lines. The tool support and tool are then retracted by the fluid ram and the rotary table stopped. After the table has stopped rotating the work-holding means may be raised to free the formed workpiece.

By way of example, for a worksheet of metal, such as aluminum of the order of one-eighth inch in the thickness with a hole diameter of approximately 60 inches, the table can be rotated at a speed of between 150 and 1,200 rpm. In our experience metal thickness can vary from 0.020 to 0.]25 inch and hole size can vary from 2 to 72 inches.

We claim:

1. in a machine for specially forming a flat metal sheet by deflecting the metal around an opening in the sheet, a frame, a rotary table carried on the frame for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the plane of the metal sheet, a motor carried by the frame and operably connectedto rotate said table, a toolholder mounted on the table for movement normal to the axis of rotation of the table and along a path having varying distances from said axis, a fluid ram mounted on the table for so moving said toolholder, a rack adjacent the table for supporting metal worksheet, a movable power-driven worksheet holddown means carried on said frame adjacent, said rack for holding the worksheet fixed relative to said frame, and a tool mounted in said toolholder and projecting therefrom into the plane of said worksheet.

2.-The machine set forth in claim 1 in which said worksheet holddown means includes a fluid ram mounted on the frame, a crosshead mounted on the movable element of the ram and ,guided for vertical movement by said frame, and a worksheet-engaging member carried by said crosshead.

3. The machine set forth in claim 1 in which an annularsupporting plate is mounted on said frame beneath said table and in which anti-friction load bearing elements are interposed between said annular supporting plate and said table.

4. The machine set forth in claim 3 in which said tablethas a depending shaft journaled on the frame provided with passages therethrough for flow of fluid.

5. In a machinefor forming the material around an opening in a flat worksheet to form an annular wall extending laterally of the general plane of the sheet:

a. a frame; I

b. a worksheet support mounted on said frame;

c. a rotary table journaled on the frame adjacent said worksheet support; motor means for rotating said table about an axis generally perpendicular to the plane of the worksheet;

e. a toolholder mounted on said table for limited movement radially of the axis of rotation thereof;

f. a forming tool carried by said toolholder for rota-v tion about an axis parallel to the axis of said table, said forming tool projecting into the plane of the flat worksheet; and

a prime mover carried by said table for moving said toolholder radially of the axis of rotation thereof in a manner so as to move said forming tool into engagement with the worksheet.

6. The machine set forth in claim 5 in which said worksheet support comprises a flat apertured member and in which there is provided work holddown means supported on said frame above said worksheet support for movement toward and away therefrom for firmly clamping the worksheet against said flat apertured member so as to hold the worksheet in a fixed position within said frame during the forming of the annular wall.

7. The machine set forth in claim 6 in which said worksheet holddown means includes fluid mounted on the frame, a crosshead rriounted on the movable element of the ram and guided for vertical movement by said frame and an apertured worksheet engaging member carried by said crosshead so constructed and arranged as to cooperate with said flat apertured member of said worksheet support to clamp the worksheet in a fixed position therebetween.

8. .The machine set forth in claim 5 in which said prime mover comprises a fluid ram including a work cylinder mounted on said rotary table and a piston rod connected to said toolholder so that said toolholder can be moved by said fluid ram. 2

9. In a machine for forming the material around an opening in a flat worksheet to form an annular wall extending laterally of the general plane of the sheet:

a. a frame; b. a worksheet support mounted on said frame;

c. a rotary table journaled on the frame adjacent said said rotary table and a piston rod connected to said toolholder so that said toolholder can be moved by said fluid ram; and

. a worksheet holddown means including a fluid ram mounted on the frame, a crosshead mounted on ram . a fluid ram including-a work cylinder mounted on r the movable element of the ram and guided for vertical movement by said frame and an apertured worksheet engaging member carried by said crosshead so constructed and arranged as to cooperate with said flat apertured member of said 5 worksheet support to clamp the worksheet in a fixed position therebetween. 

1. In a machine for specially forming a flat metal sheet by deflecting the metal around an opening in the sheet, a frame, a rotary table carried on the frame for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the plane of the metal sheet, a motor carried by the frame and operably connected to rotate said table, a toolholder mounted on the table for movement normal to the axis of rotation of the table and along a path having varying distances from said axis, a fluid ram mounted on the table for so moving said toolholder, a rack adjacent the table for supporting metal worksheet, a movable power-driven worksheet holddown means carried on said frame adjacent said rack for holding the worksheet fixed relative to said frame, and a tool mounted in said toolholder and projecting therefrom into the plane of said worksheet.
 2. The machine set forth in claim 1 in which said worksheet holddown means includes a fluid ram mounted on the frame, a crosshead mounted on the movable element of the ram and guided for vertical movement by said frame, and a worksheet-engaging member carried by said crosshead.
 3. The machine set forth in claim 1 in which an annular supporting plate is mounted on said frame beneath said table and in which anti-friction load bearing elements are interposed between said annular supporting plate and said table.
 4. The machine set forth in claim 3 in which said table has a depending shaft journaled on the frame provided with passages therethrough for flow of fluid.
 5. In a machine for forming the material around an opening in a flat worksheet to form an annular wall extending laterally of the general plane of the sheet: a. a frame; b. a worksheet support mounted on said frame; c. a rotary table journaled on the frame adjacent said worksheet support; d. motor means for rotating said table about an axis generally perpendicular to the plane of the worksheet; e. a toolholder mounted on said table for limited movement radially of the axis of rotation thereof; f. a forming tool carried by said toolholder for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of said table, said forming tool projecting into the plane of the flat worksheet; and g. a prime mover carried by said table for moving said toolholder radially of the axis of rotation thereof in a manner so as to move said forming tool into engagement with the worksheet.
 6. The machine set forth in claim 5 in which said worksheet support comprises a flat apertured member and in which there is provided work holddown means supported on said frame above said worksheet support for movement toward and away therefrom for firmly clamping the worksheet against said flat apertured member so as to hold the worksheet in a fixed position within said frame during the forming of the annular wall.
 7. The machine set forth in claim 6 in which said worksheet holddown means includes fluid ram mounTed on the frame, a crosshead mounted on the movable element of the ram and guided for vertical movement by said frame and an apertured worksheet engaging member carried by said crosshead so constructed and arranged as to cooperate with said flat apertured member of said worksheet support to clamp the worksheet in a fixed position therebetween.
 8. The machine set forth in claim 5 in which said prime mover comprises a fluid ram including a work cylinder mounted on said rotary table and a piston rod connected to said toolholder so that said toolholder can be moved by said fluid ram.
 9. In a machine for forming the material around an opening in a flat worksheet to form an annular wall extending laterally of the general plane of the sheet: a. a frame; b. a worksheet support mounted on said frame; c. a rotary table journaled on the frame adjacent said worksheet support; d. motor means for rotating said table about an axis generally perpendicular to the plane of the worksheet; e. a toolholder mounted on said table for limited movement radially of the axis of rotation thereof; f. a forming tool carried by said toolholder for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said table, said forming tool projecting into the plane of the flat worksheet; g. a fluid ram including a work cylinder mounted on said rotary table and a piston rod connected to said toolholder so that said toolholder can be moved by said fluid ram; and h. a worksheet holddown means including a fluid ram mounted on the frame, a crosshead mounted on the movable element of the ram and guided for vertical movement by said frame and an apertured worksheet engaging member carried by said crosshead so constructed and arranged as to cooperate with said flat apertured member of said worksheet support to clamp the worksheet in a fixed position therebetween. 